Coca-Cola Addict Drinks Four Litres A Day

#1 He's An Addict

A lot of people have collections and many are addicted to certain things. But Hendrik Botha, 61, from Centurion, South Africa, is hooked on something that a lot of people drink every day, and he has gone overboard with his obsession to Coca-Cola to the point that he now is a certified addict.

#2 He Started Collecting In 1995

Hendrik's addiction is not just for drinking the bubbly soda, he began collecting Coke memorabilia in 1995 when he turned his dining room into a Coke themed bar.

#3 Built A Special 'Museum" To House His Collection

His friends and family call him "Oupa Coke," which means Grandpa Coke, because his collection has grown so much that he had to purchase a new home and build a special annex in the back garden to house his enormous assortment of all things Coke.

#4 He Drinks A Lot Of Coke

He consumes between four and five liters of Coke every day. He said: "I wake up with Coke and I go to bed with Coke." He does not drink water or coffee at all and the only liquids his body gets is Coke. "Not everyone understands it they will call you crazy and obsessed - but I would say it was a passion rather than an obsession," he said.

#5 He Scours The Internet For Coke Products

Hendrik's fascination with Coke as a brand developed quickly and he soon found himself going to extreme lengths to collect more memorabilia. He stays up some nights until the wee hours of the morning, watching auction sites for a new listing of anything with the Coca-Cola logo or design. He says that he finds a lot of really old advertising merchandise with the Coca-Cola branding on it through eBay and a few specialized sites.

#6 He Has Gone To Extreme Lengths

"The most extreme I have gone to find items is digging in a dustbin," he said. "Once I drove out to a rock concert at two o'clock in the morning to see what I could find." He has Coke cans from all around the globe, and some advertising merchandise dating back to the early days of the Coca-Cola company in the late 1890's.

#7 He's Done Some Crazy Things To Get Coke Products

In his local area, shop owners have actually asked him to leave, because he is always going in looking for a new Coke design on the bottles and cans, and turns all the products around on the shelves. "I've been chased out of shops because they put their cans with the Coke sign facing to the front and it's not the picture I want to see," he says.

"Yeah, I've done some crazy things like that!"

#8 His Wife Helps With His Obsession

But Hendrik is not alone in his addiction/obsession with Coke. His wife is right there with him when it comes to the collecting of memorabilia and products. Rykie Botha, is also very supportive of her husband's love of Coca-Cola, though she says she doesn't drink as much of it as he does.

#9 They Hold Christmas Viewings Of Their Collection

On alternate years, the Botha's host a special 'Coke Christmas', inviting the community, family, and friends to visit his home and feast their eyes upon his vast collection. They are also treated to a homecooked feast, complete with Coke for drinking and even cola flavored cake and candy.

#10 He Has Items Going Back As Far As 1900

Rykie has helped Hendrik find some of his most prized possessions, like the 1945 bicycle she purchased in Canada at a flea marker in 1997. She said, "I'm proud of him and I share his passion. We share each other's passions." She makes tee shirts for the couple with their names on them since the Coke campaign with personalized names did not include Rykie or Hendrik. But their collection does include several items dating as far back as 1901 and 1903, things they keep locked up and will not reveal because they claim they are worth a lot of money.

#11 He Is Not Finished Adding To His Collection

Hendrik says he is not finished collecting just yet. There are lots of things out there that he still wants. He keeps a spreadsheet to keep track of which Coke cans he has managed to collect. He is aware of four cans that are still missing from his compilation, but he is not letting this get him down. He knows he will never achieve the record for collecting the most Coke themed advertising merchandise, but is happy with his collection.

#12 One Of The Largest Personal Collections In The World

The Coke Company, which runs a museum of memorabilia and manufacturing museum at the World of Coca‑Cola in Atlanta, has listed Hendrik's collection as one of the world's largest. He has everything from bubblegum machine, umbrellas, key chains, toy cars & trucks, to large stuffed animals and sports themed items.